Helena Duong 2010

Helena Duong is a specialist criminal and regulatory barrister. She is regularly instructed to prosecute and defend in serious and complex cases, with an emphasis on fraud and sexual offences. Helena regularly appears before disciplinary tribunals, including the General Medical Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Helena also has considerable experience in financial regulation having acted in and advised financial institutions in investigations into compliance with money laundering regulations and related corporate governance issues.

Criminal

Helena has experience of dealing with cases across the spectrum of criminal offences, including drugs, firearms, fraud, rape and murder. She is able to deal with vulnerable defendants and witnesses alike.

R v SA, Manchester Crown Court (2017) – Defence junior in a high profile murder in which it was alleged the defendant poured petrol over his sister and set her on fire. During the trial, Helena played an active role: calling the defence fire investigation expert and cross-examining the prosecution rebuttal witness.

Operation Mecklenburger (2015 – 2017) – Second prosecution junior in two linked money laundering trials involving 18 defendants. Over £15m alleged to have been laundered through a central London bureau de change.

R v BM, Blackfriars Crown Court (2016) – Defended a young woman who pleaded guilty to a firearms offence that attracted the 5-year minimum term. Judge agreed that there were “exceptional circumstances” in this case following evidence from a defence psychologist.

Helena is experienced in the fields of financial regulation and professional discipline. She has been engaged in a number of highly confidential and long running financial investigations involving multi-national financial institutions in which issues relating to AML/CFT, sanctions and corporate governance have arisen. From this specialist advisory work, Helena has developed a detailed understanding of financial regulatory law and how it applies in practice.

In addition, Helena is also regularly instructed to act on behalf of healthcare regulators, including the GMC and NMC. Her recent cases include fitness to practice allegations involving dishonesty, sexual assault and convictions for offences including for possession of indecent images.